Chapter : 05 — Beautiful Yeonhwa
“The situation is not good. The rumor that the Minister of Personnel’s daughter is already entering the palace as a concubine has spread everywhere. The ministers have already begun to curry favor with the Left State Councilor and the Minister of Personnel.”
At the Buwongun’s words, the Queen squeezed her eyes shut again.
“How could you let things become like this? It has already been a month. How is it that there is still no girl who has received His Majesty’s favor?”
With the sorrowful Queen before him, the Buwongun spoke resentfully.
“Your Majesty, the Sangung of the royal sleeping quarters is here.”
“Wait—”
“Let her in.”
The Buwongun interrupted the Queen and gave the order toward the outside. When there seemed to be some hesitation outside, the Buwongun shouted even louder.
“Come in at once!!”
Even the Queen was overwhelmed by his forceful manner and could only wrinkle her brow.
Eventually, the Sangung of the royal sleeping quarters entered through the open door.
“What is the matter?”
The Queen, watching the Buwongun’s mood, asked the Sangung of the royal sleeping quarters with as calm an expression as possible.
“I am sorry to report this, but something has happened to the palace maid who was supposed to enter the royal sleeping quarters today.”
“What?”
“Therefore, if the night together is not to be postponed, we will have to urgently find and bring in another girl.”
The Queen flinched.
She wanted to see with her own eyes the woman who would enter the king’s sleeping quarters. However, with the Buwongun present, the Queen was forced to watch his mood.
“Do you call that an explanation?”
The Buwongun raised his voice at this absurd situation.
“But, Father. How can we send a girl into His Majesty’s sleeping quarters without—”
“Since when did the royal family—!”
The Buwongun’s angry shout continued.
“Since when did the royal family have to ask the Queen’s permission for such a thing? The king’s sleeping quarters are under your authority. Does it make sense to ask Her Majesty the Queen for permission?”
The Buwongun shouted at the Sangung of the royal sleeping quarters, but his anger was directed at the Queen.
“I am sorry. I will handle it myself.”
“If something like this reaches my ears again, I will not let you off.”
As the Sangung raised her head, the Queen subtly shook her head at her.
The Sangung of the royal sleeping quarters immediately went outside and ordered that Yeonhwa be prepared to enter the royal sleeping quarters. Then, after the Buwongun left Gyotaejeon, she returned to see the Queen.
“Please do not worry. I am Your Majesty’s person. No matter how beautiful the girl we bring in may be, is there any palace maid in this palace who could compare with Your Majesty’s beauty?”
At the Sangung’s words, the Queen’s worry eased somewhat.
If the night together were postponed, the Buwongun would certainly find out.
“I will tell you once again, they must not spend more than three nights together. I do not need a favored concubine. I only need an heir.”
“Please do not worry. I will obey your command.”
And amid the whirlwind of events, the Queen completely forgot about the aphrodisiac she had given to the palace maid from the royal kitchen.
“Yeonhwa?”
Hyeon turned his head toward the owner of the voice, repeating the familiar name.
Although she lowered her head to hide her face, the forehead that could already be seen slightly was far from ordinary.
“The name Yeonhwa does not sound unfamiliar. Raise your head.”
At the low voice, Yeonhwa turned her head to the other side instead of raising it.
Hyeon, whose patience and endurance were second to none, was unusually impatient today.
Hyeon approached the frightened girl, lifted her chin with his own hand, and made her look at him.
Her jade-white skin, large eyes, and the face he knew so well.
A beauty so breathtaking that it seemed to stop his breath.
Hyeon lowered his eyelids slightly.
Strangely, his heart was beating rapidly, and his breathing became short.
Hyeon lowered the hand that had been touching her face.
Yeonhwa’s eyes lowered, filled with fear.
Thirsty, Hyeon turned his head again, poured himself another drink, and emptied the cup once more.
Feeling the heavy atmosphere, Yeonhwa’s lips trembled.
Hyeon had only turned his head away for a moment to drink, yet he already wanted to see that beautiful face again.
His heart beat rapidly at the thought that this was the woman who would spend the night with him.
Hyeon sent away the drinking table and approached Yeonhwa.
“Look at me.”
“……”
“I told you, I am not a person who says the same thing twice.”
At his gentle yet firm words, Yeonhwa slowly raised her head.
Hyeon’s eyes, carrying a strange current, met her wistful eyes, which seemed to have lost the whole world.
Hyeon’s heart and Yeonhwa’s heart raced at the same speed.
With the help of the aphrodisiac, Hyeon could not suppress the desire rising within him. On the other hand, Yeonhwa found it difficult to endure this situation that had come upon her for the first time.
Hyeon reached out to untie Yeonhwa’s clothing.
At that moment, Yeonhwa instinctively protected her clothes.
Hyeon’s eyes widened as he examined Yeonhwa’s face.
It was the first time in his life that a woman had reacted this way to his touch.
“What are you doing?”
“I-I am sorry. I did it without realizing…”
But Yeonhwa’s hand remained wrapped around her clothes.
Unlike the women who had simply waited for his touch like dolls, Yeonhwa’s actions stirred Hyeon’s curiosity.
Without knowing that being told not to do something could make a desire even stronger, Yeonhwa simply looked beautiful.
“Are you doing this because you are afraid?”
“……”
When Yeonhwa said nothing, Hyeon grabbed her hand.
“Ah!”
At the unexpected softness of Yeonhwa’s skin, and at the fear that drew her brows together, Hyeon’s heart thudded heavily once again.
Holding her hand, Hyeon used his other hand to hold her face and brought his own face closer.
“You are beautiful.”
Without realizing it, Hyeon murmured the thought in his heart and gently kissed her lips.
“Mm…”
Her stiffened lips only stirred Hyeon’s desire further.
Yeonhwa put strength into her hands and struggled to get away from his body.
The reason was that the Sangung of the royal sleeping quarters had failed to tell Yeonhwa about the most important Palgeumjo because she had been too busy worrying about everything that needed attention for tonight’s union.
Before meeting Yeonhwa, she had asked the palace maid from the royal kitchen about the aphrodisiac she had received.
The king’s body was an important matter even to herself, so she could not recklessly administer something to him.
Fortunately, she was told that it would not harm his body and would allow the union to take place, so the Sangung of the royal sleeping quarters had proceeded carefully.
Because of the time she had lost due to this, the Sangung of the royal sleeping quarters had completely forgotten about the Palgeumjo.
Unlike the women who had treated him like a doll, Hyeon became increasingly impatient with Yeonhwa, who reacted to his movements.
As he kissed her more deeply and their tongues moved softly, Yeonhwa’s stiff body gradually relaxed.
Hyeon pulled her by the waist and held her more deeply in his arms.
At the kiss of a man she had encountered for the first time in her life, the strength drained from Yeonhwa’s body.
Her mind became hazy, filled with a strange and unfamiliar sensation.
Hyeon seemed to pull his lips away slightly, only to gently take hold of Yeonhwa’s upper lip again.
He soothed her softly while gently stroking her back.
Hyeon waited for her to let down her guard around him.
Before she knew it, Yeonhwa’s back touched the fine golden bedding.
“Do not be afraid. I will bestow the king’s favor upon you.”
Hyeon’s hand gently stroked Yeonhwa’s long, beautiful hair.
When his body moved away from hers, Yeonhwa’s body trembled again.
Hyeon removed his royal robe and untied her clothes.
When Yeonhwa’s hand moved toward her clothes, he caught that hand and brought it to his lips.
“It may hurt. It may be difficult.”
Hyeon’s expression was gentle as he kissed her hand.
Yeonhwa swallowed dryly and stared at Hyeon’s entrancing face.
Feeling the fine, soft skin beneath his hand and the pleasant warmth of her fingertips against his lips, Hyeon lowered his gaze to Yeonhwa’s face.
In her eyes, where the fear had faded, Hyeon showed a languid smile.
“It is because this is your first time, so do not worry.”
At his warm voice, Yeonhwa finally opened her mouth.
“I-I am overwhelmed by Your Majesty’s favor.”
Although she was afraid, Hyeon found it quite admirable that she had spoken while looking into his eyes.
Whenever he saw women who closed their eyes or turned their heads away, Hyeon always felt as though he were being rejected.
As if rewarding her, Hyeon kissed her lips again and gently coaxed her.
This time, Yeonhwa did not push Hyeon away either.
And so, it seemed that their union was heading toward success.
“Y-Your Majesty.”
Before they knew it, Hyeon and Yeonhwa’s bare bodies were sharing each other’s warmth.
“Are you all right?”
“……”
Hyeon held the still-trembling Yeonhwa in his arms and kissed her forehead.
“I-I am afraid. I am scared.”
Yeonhwa’s trembling was transmitted to Hyeon’s body. Because of that, Hyeon waited until she had calmed down and did not take any action.
He carefully checked Yeonhwa’s condition several times.
Then Hyeon comforted Yeonhwa’s body little by little, helping her relax, and kissed her.
After doing so for about half an hour.
Hyeon carefully pressed his body against Yeonhwa’s body, which had relaxed to some extent.
“Ahh.”
Yeonhwa twisted her expression with a sound like a final cry of pain.
It was as though all of their efforts had returned to the beginning, and Yeonhwa’s body became stiff again.
“Ahhh!!”
Yeonhwa’s scream finally leaked outside the royal sleeping quarters.
Startled, Hyeon covered her lips with his hand.
“What happened?”
The startled voice of the Sangung of the royal sleeping quarters could be heard, and Hyeon hurriedly answered.
“Nothing.”
“Perhaps…”
“I said it is nothing. Send everyone except the Sangung of the royal sleeping quarters outside.”
Hyeon gave the order in a stern voice unlike the one he used when speaking to Yeonhwa.
At the king’s order that nothing had happened, the Sangung of the royal sleeping quarters anxiously paced outside. Only then did she realize that she had failed to tell Yeonhwa about the Palgeumjo.
“You must be quiet!”
Hyeon looked into her eyes again and spoke worriedly.
He did not mind Yeonhwa’s hands pushing against his chest.
He was only concerned because he knew that if rumors spread because of this incident, it would not be good for Yeonhwa.
“I-I am in pain.”
Two thick streams of tears flowed from Yeonhwa’s eyes.
Startled, Hyeon withdrew his body from hers.
“Are you all right?”
Even at the king’s words, Yeonhwa did not dare answer and simply shed tears.
Pain spread through Hyeon’s lower abdomen because he had not relieved his desire.
But all Hyeon could see was Yeonhwa’s suffering.
“It is all right. Do not cry. I will not force you.”
Hyeon comforted her as though soothing and calming a three-year-old child.
“Sniff… I-I am sorry.”
